Caffè Umbria

Once upon a time, back in 1986, an Italian immigrant to Seattle (and son of a coffee roaster himself) by the name of Umberto Bizzari, opened Torrefazione Italia in our city’s historic Pioneer Square.

There, in what became the flagship location for the small family owned company, Signore Bizarri sold custom-roasted coffee blends to Seattle's coffee enthusiasts and the local bean intelligentsia alike.

Later, in 1994, Bizzari merged his company with Seattle’s Best Coffee which then became the Seattle Coffee Company. The company grew and grew.

Eventually Bizzari left the company (when the brand was sold to AFC in 1998).

And needless, to say later on Starbuck's came into the picture and bought the brand with a promise to keep the original Italian café feel with all its modern touches, the lovely dark wood furniture, hand-painted tile accents, the gorgeous menu boards, the Venetian hand-blown fixtures.

Meanwhile Umberto's son Emanuele, had opened Caffè Umbria in Seattle in an effort to continue the family's coffee-roasting legacy, keeping the city well caffeinated, with its mainly wholesale and online focused business.

Fast forward a few years...

Sadly, by now, we all know what became of that promise made by Starbucks. A few months ago the company closed up Torrefazione Italia and those of us in need of our daily Italian fix had to go elsewhere. Lucky for us in our downtown neighborhood, Motore Coffee came to the rescue.

Later on, even Senso Unico opened up (ironically by yet another Italian connected to the Bizarri's original operation) in the neighborhood, occupying the vacant lot left empty by Torrefazione on Olive Way, across from Pacific Place.

But like they say, all good things come to those who wait..and wait and wait...finally, here in Seattle, coffee lovers have come, once again, full circle. The beautiful space at 320 Occidental Ave S, the old Torrefazione's flagship location at Pioneer Square, is once again in the hand of the Bizarri family, opened for a week already as the new Caffè Umbria.

And just like our dearly departed Torrefazione, the place looks gorgeous and they are stocking all our old favorites.

From panini (DeLaurenti's), gelato (from Gelatiamo), beautiful pastries and breads from local independent bakers (the French Bakery, Essential, Macrina) to my new favorite chocolates from Fiori.

And at least one of the baristi from Olive Way was spotted last week, pouring lattes and cappuccinos like nobody's business. Just like the good old times!

This is indeed a sight for sore eyes and all I can say is grazie mille and benvenuti!

Caffè Umbria
320 Occidental Ave S
Seattle, WA

Caffè Umbria on my Flickr

Comments

[nazila]

Woo hoo. My TH loved TI, and mourned the loss of it. I love Caffe Umbria coffee and I know she will be excited to get back her pre-train hangout for her weekly commute to Salem/Corvallis. She'll be delighted to hear that it is open.

Nazila
who is in Rome today and just got her cafffe cammerino fix. :)